Mike Antich spent much of his career recognizing other people. He helped champion the Edward J. Bobit Fleet Manager of the Year Award and the Fleet Hall of Fame, and he helped create the Fleet Visionary Award to recognize newer professionals already making their mark. Each year at the AFLA conference, Mike helped bring attention to the people moving fleet management forward with these awards.

Mike passed away in December of 2025. Inherent in continually honoring his legacy is a new award bearing his name, the Mike Antich Spirit of Fleet Award, which will be presented alongside the other awards at the 2026 AFLA Corporate Leasing Conference in Las Vegas on Sept. 28.

Sponsored by Nissan, the award recognizes something distinct: service to the fleet profession and the people within it. Contributions beyond the boundaries of one’s job.

No doubt, the nominees and winners of the other awards share this dedication. This award embodies it.  

It means sharing knowledge, supporting colleagues, connecting people, and investing time in the organizations that move the profession forward. It means leadership demonstrated not only through business results, but through generosity, involvement and a commitment to leaving the industry stronger. That was how Mike approached fleet.

“For Mike, it was never just an industry to cover. He treated it as a community. He was responsible for it, and he helped build it,” said Jerry Zielinski, head of commercial and government sales at Nissan. “That is what I remember the most about him, and it is why we launched the Spirit of Fleet Award in his honor. We want to recognize the people who bring that same sense of service and responsibility to the profession.”

During more than four decades in the industry, Mike helped establish publications and conferences, served two terms as AFLA president and contributed to organizations throughout fleet management and vehicle remarketing. He helped build professional networks, certification programs and international partnerships whose influence continues today.

But that’s only part of it. He connected people. He remembered the industry’s history and used it to help others understand where it was going. He encouraged new voices, recognized emerging leaders and treated the advancement of fleet management as a shared responsibility.

The nominees for the inaugural award were determined jointly by the AFLA board of directors, Nissan, and Bobit. Representatives of those three organizations then voted to select the 2026 recipient.

If you think about it, it all fits into place now: emerging leaders (Visionary), career impact (Fleet Manager of the Year), lasting legacy (Hall of Fame), and now the Spirit of Fleet Award, recognizing the service and generosity that hold the fleet community together.

Mike spent years standing on the AFLA stage honoring others. Presenting the inaugural Mike Antich Spirit of Fleet Award on that same stage is a fitting way to ensure that his example continues to positively affect the profession.

See you at AFLA.